Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-08

n few Years until i grow up with my |
adopted country. A new existence may
Il do not say il will give me back that |
energy for which my own people in the |
far past were famous"
The Colonel listened approvingly Then
opening his heart, Monsieur Alexis said
that it might be presumptuous on his
part to throw himself at the mercy of his
new frieads, but would the Colonel
allow him 10 accompany him and
Miss McBiddie to Denver! Even more
than that, he had a good deal of money
about his person, and it was risk to
carry it around, and the Colonel might
arrange 50 as to have it sent to Denver.
The colonel was quite taken aback.
Such unlimited confidence he hardly ex-
pected. Then the colonel consulted
Almeria, and she blushed and seemed to
be in doubt.
"Would it not compromise me?" she
inquired.
''Stutf and nonsenselr said the Colonel.
"Almery, there is a ranch on Powder
CreelS-I had TO take it last year-what
would Just fit the case. Idon't commit
myself noways, until see how he pans
out"
"Oh, papa. that's one of your horrid
business terms. | am sure that the long
railroad travel is thing / dread, and you
going to sleep most of the time, and pass
ing hours on the smoking car, and mo-
body to talk to-"
"Well, then, guess we can fix it;
anyways, if we take the trip together,
will always be within call It's a good
ranch, Almery, and worth all the money
I ask for it, and if he shows up well, Pll
act square by him. There's only one
thing: he seems so blessed innocent and
confding like"
When NJ Alexis met Miss McBiddie
that evening, he touched her gloved fin
ger-tips with his lips. Almeria gave q
little gasp, half surprise, half pleasure.
Her confusion was manifest, and he no.
ticed it. Forgive me-" he said. ''jt
was only huss an custom expressive of
heartfelt gratitude. am like chill,
and cannot repress my feelings. 1t will
be such happiness for me to see this new
land under delightful auspices
That night Almeria had more dreams.
She was fairly prudent young woman,
not yet twenty eight If it were a con-
quest she had made, she had no fancy to
exhibit her triumph, and Monsieur Alex
is, though he had been rather demon
strative just once-showed no further
sign of exultation.
They had great deal to say to one
another. The weather was pleasant, the
moon at her full, and Almeria was hap
pier than she had ever been in her life
before. 1t would be on the cars that M.
Alexis would tell the whole story of his
life. Of course such a man as that, a
man evidently of the world, would have
to be forgiven for his faults. He was
free; he had told her that plainly enough;
but then she would not be quite satisfied
with that; and the colonel, who was
shrewd, would make further inquiries; /;
but il she loved him, and she felt as she
did, she would be wretched woman if
matters turned out not so roseate as she
hoped for. Yet the recital. the acting of
her romance, might take place as the two
were speeding over the mcnotonous prai-
| ries.
! M. Alexis had never looked brighter,
more elegant, than wien the steamer was
near the dock. II am such an infant,
my dear Colonel, that Lput myself entire
| ly under your charge" he said, with a
! pleasant smile.
Then Miss McBiddie laughed, and
made cunning remark that he was a
fairly well-grown baby to be hauled
around in leading strings. ''But," she
added, ''if he was real good, not trouble
some, and did not bother with too many
questions, she would take him and her
father that night to the theatre. That
should be his first sightseeing in New
York. You see, the opera at Denver
and New York may not be as good as in
Paris or London, but it satisfies us. :"
Then Almeria tried to remember in which
of her four trunks had been packed her
finest dress, and wondered ii the Custom
house people would delay her much, and
the probabilities of her wearing her lovely
silk that very night.
II have little curiosity,n said M.
Alexis, ''about New York, and care moth
ing for huge cities, for they all wear a
family resemblance. The bigger they
grow the more marked the likeness I
shall like Denver far, far better than New
York. Now | must go down to my
room, and will come up again in mo-
ment, and I will etface my individuality
as would a little duckling under the pro-
tecting wing of its parents"
Then the Colonel, who had gone to the
ships side, called his daughter, SAL
merry" he said, with glee, ''it's awful
kind: there's whole Colorado deputa-
tion on the dock awaiting for us. =
And the Colonel waved his handkerchief,
as did his daughter.
1t was all done in second, though the
arrangements necessary to bring about
the climax had been under careful prep
aration for fully sixty days beforehand.
4 OFF Quarantine ground, alongside of the
Il visiting doctor, there had come on board
4 of the steamer man who looked neither
I hard nor rough, only determined. The
captain of the steamer he did not even
nod to, but he at once sought out the
ships surgeon, and said few words to
him. The waiter had M. Alexis's bao
and satchel, and monsieur had Just fitted
on his gloves, when hand was clapped
on his shoulder, and the determined
looking man said, in low voice, which
Monsieur Alexis heard distinctly, though
steam was roaring through the escape
pipe: 81 arrest you. ]"
I 'sWhy2' inquired M. Alexis, without
4 even quaking.
4 Don't make any bother, but come
4 quietly along. Your game is played.
4 "a n